Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside
Published on: July 3, 2016
New SAR11 isolate genomes and global marine metagenomes resolve ecologically relevant units within the
Kelle C Freel1, Sarah J Tucker1,2,3,4,5, Evan B Freel1
1Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, USA.
Abstract:
The bacterial order Pelagibacterales (SAR11) is widely distributed across the global surface ocean, where its activities are integral to the marine carbon cycle. High-quality genomes from isolates that can be propagated and phenotyped are needed to unify perspectives on the ecology and evolution of this complex group. Here, we increase the number of complete SAR11 isolate genomes threefold by describing 81 new SAR11 strains from coastal and offshore surface seawater of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Our analyses of the genomes and their spatiotemporal distributions support the existence of 29 monophyletic, discrete Pelagibacterales ecotypes that we define as genera. The spatiotemporal distributions of genomes within genera were correlated at fine scales with variation in ecologically-relevant gene content, supporting generic assignments and providing indications of speciation. We provide a hierarchical system of classification for SAR11 populations that is meaningfully correlated with evolution and ecology, providing a valid and utilitarian systematic nomenclature for this clade.
More Related Videos
09:55Exploring the Root Microbiome: Extracting Bacterial Community Data from the Soil, Rhizosphere, and Root Endosphere
Published on: May 2, 2018
10:03Isolation, Propagation, and Identification of Bacterial Species with Hydrocarbon Metabolizing Properties from Aquatic Habitats
Published on: December 7, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes
Diversity of Protists I
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
Diversity of Protists III